As entrepreneurs, we’re hardwired to do anything and everything to make our business thrive. Unfortunately, we’re usually overworked and stressed out because of it. Worse yet, our bank accounts often don’t reflect all that hard work.
The good news is, there’s one thing you can do to keep yourself sane and your business thriving: be picky. Why?
It will save you money
Many entrepreneurs are drawn to the latest gadgets and tools to keep their business on the cutting edge of what’s possible. After all, if the big names are using the new technology, it must be good.
But if you choose the wrong tool for you, it’ll all be a waste of money.
Don’t spend a fortune on InfusionSoft if your needs are manageable through cheaper services like Aweber or Mailchimp.
Do your research, and be picky. Evaluate what your needs are before looking for a product or service to meet them. If you keep your actual needs in mind while you search, you’ll be able to compare apples to apples as you investigate what each tool is capable of.
It will save you time
There are some amazing free resources for entrepreneurs. From newsletters and ebooks to webinars and workshops, a lot of useful information is being offered for nothing.
But that’s just the problem: as fun as it can be to gain all that info for free, it’s counterproductive. With each free download you accept, you have one more thing to tend to on your to-do list. Too many free resources can clutter your mental space.
On top of that, many of these information goldmines aren’t applicable to your business. You are not everyone’s target reader. When you accept a free resource from someone who isn’t speaking to you specifically, you’ll begin second-guessing what works in your business. What you learn from one guru will conflict with what another says, and in the end, you’ll feel helpless and stuck.
Don’t sign up for things just because they’re free. Instead, choose resources and webinars that are applicable to your business as it is right now. Pick newsletters that come from a trusted source and provide practical, actionable tips.
It will make it easier to connect with your target audience
Many entrepreneurs attend conferences to keep their ideas fresh and to network. But it’s easy to get sidetracked by signing up for expensive conferences that don’t match your company’s needs.
It may feel like you’re making progress by attending World Domination Summit—after all, that’s where the big bloggers hang out. But take a step back and think about how that conference you’re looking at actually fits in with your business. Going to niche-specific events is usually more beneficial (and cheaper!) than scrambling for tickets to the biggest general conference in the nation.
At a niche-based conference, you’re more likely to run into potential clients, make worthwhile connections with your peers, and glean knowledge that directly relates to the day-to-day work of your business. By being picky and attending the right conference, you can make huge strides toward connecting with your target audience.
Questions to Help You Be Picky
The next time you need to make a decision about how to spend your time or money, use these guiding questions to stay picky and keep your business on track:
- Am I interested in this product or event based on what it is, or because the popular bloggers are using it?
- Is there a cheaper option that still meets my needs?
- Will this fill a specific gap in my business strategy or knowledge, or will it add needless clutter to my life?
- Am I the target reader for this ebook or webinar?
- Are my target clients likely to attend this conference?
- If I attend this conference, will I learn new information that directly benefits my target clients?
I know you want your business to grow, and you’ll do whatever it takes to get there. But it’s impossible to do everything. Spreading yourself too thin won’t grow a business—focus will.
Do yourself and your business a favor and start being picky.
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